Abdominal support



p 1 1929- J. E. PARKISON 1,727,668

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Filed Feb. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 10, 1929. J. E. PARKISON 1 ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Filed Feb.- 2],. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 10, 1929. l I y i I 7 UNITED STATES PA ENTO F E JOHN E. rARKIsoN, or SEATTLE, :WASHINGTON. nssrenon 'OF ONE-HALF n nn H. I rARKrsoN, or ENCAMPMENT. wroirrmer. p I b ABDOMINAL surronr. I Applicationfiled February 21, 1927 seriarno. 169,971. I I

This invention relates to body supports to like partsthroughout the several views, and particularly to supports for the abdo- 10'generally denotes a pad carrying assembly men, i and 11 generally denotesa belt assembly.

The primary object ofrthis invention is Primarily then, the sppport may be said to the provision of an improved and simplified comprise two units which may be readily 55 form of support for this purpose. assembled together .upon the wearer orsepa- A further object is the provision of a rated completely from each other. I support .which is comfortable to the wearer The padcarryingjunit ,10 comprises a' and which will remain in correct position at bowor splint 12,'a pad 13, and a hook plate all times. I 14. The bow is made of a resilient but 60 Another object is the provision of ,a supmoderately stiff material such as spring port which will apply pressure at the point steel seasoned wood or the like. The bow desired without squeezing the body in at the has the general form of an incomplete elsides, or portions .of the front not covered lipse comprising, the front portion 12 and l with pad. the ends 12 -which ends may and preferably 5 Another object is'the provision of a supdo extend beyond the major axis of the elport which is adjustable in length within lipse-so asto provide meansin the nature of wide limits so that one given size willfit a arms or levers forcantingthefront portion number of different-persons. 12 of the bow forfa purpose' which will b 2 Another objectis the provision of a suphereinafter appear. Thewidthof the bow 70 port which has no exposed rigid portions between its curved ends and the curvature to chafe or rip the wearing apparel of the of its front portion will, of course,tdepend user. upon the size and shape of the body for Another object is the provision of an im which vthe support is intended. Rotund proved pad construction. And yet another bodies may require abow havingconsider- ,75 object is the provision of a supportembodyablecurvature at the frontwhile thin bodies ing the above features which will at the may require abow having little or'no curvasame time be inexpensive to manufacture turealongthe front. I j p and durable in use. Other objects and cer- The pad 13 consistsofa substantiallystiff tain features of novelty residing infltheinplate 13 of metal, gutta-perchaor thelike, 80

vention will "be apparent from the followrigidly secured the desired .point alOng ing description taken in connection with the the bow 12 by screws or bolts 13 As clearly accompanying drawings forming a part of illustrated in Fig.5, the bow member 12 this specification and in which: at. the .point where the platelifi is attached Figure 1 is a front'perspective view of is madestraight on the front side andinthe device; wardly inclined from top tobottom on the Figure 2 is a central girdle section of the rear side to ,givean inward tilt to the botdevice with one of the belt clasps removed tom ofthe pad. Thislprovides somewhat of from its hook; a lift or support for the abdomen.

40 Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the This'plate may be covered if desired and device; for this purpose a soft pack 13 may be se- Figure 4 is" a vertical section taken subcured to the plate by a fabric or chamois stantially on the line.4r4 of Figure 3; cover 13 The cover embraces one side of Figure 5 is a vertical section taken subthe pack and is secured to theiedges of the] stantially on the line 55 of Figures 1 plate 13? in any suitabl ma oig a y or 2; and b stitches taken thru the cover .and thru holes Figure 6 is a vertical section taken sub- 13 5).provided about the edges of stantially on theline 6 6 of Figure 3. the plate. or'.convcnie11ce in inserting Referring more particularly to the drawfresh ipaoking gbeneath the cover one edge ings, wherein likereference ,charactersrefer may ggbe left JEQQ, q z theedge of the plate 00 and have a flap 13 secured thereto for detachably securing the cover tothat edge of the plate. Preferably the flap is caught over.

a rounded edge of the plate (the lower edge Figs. 1 and 5) in order that it may be slipped on and 05 by virtue of a slight elasticity or give in the material of the cover or flap.

WVhen desired of course, the entire pad or 14? which may be made in the form of studs orhooks (as illustrated) or in any other convenient form," depending of course on the.

type of Clasps provided on the belt unit for use in conjunction with the catches. v

. The belt unit 11 comprises essentially a bandlfi and straps 17 secured thereto. The

I band 16 is made up of a central web or elast-ic' section 16" intermediate sections 1t on either side of the web 'SBCtlOIl, and end sec 'tions 16. The end sections arereinforced andprovidedwith pockets 16 (as shown most clearly in Fig. ,6) to accommodate the ends 12 ofthe bow 12. V Each of the straps 17 is made of a substantial material such as ribbed webbing. and

: issecured at its end to'the band adjacent free of the intermediate section '16".

pair of auxiliary straps 17 17 are secured one edge of the central web section 16 and at another point along its length to the end section 16 adjacent its inner end but extends at and extend atan angle from the point where the strap 17 is secured to the end section 16 to points respectively above and below the end of strap 17 wherethey also are secured to the edge of the section 16. Near the point Where theyare secured to the end sections16 the straps 17 are provided with loops 17 9' carryingbuckles 17 Clasps 17 F adapted to be caught on hooks 14 are provided with links 17 of proper size to slip overthe strap 17 'in such manher that when the free end of the strap is passed thru the link and caught in the buckle 17 c the clasp will be held in the end of the'loop thus formed.- Since the strap is of considerable length and inav be caught I at any point along its length by the buckle.

fective length of the clasp may be secured at any number of different adjustedpositions to vary the-ef the belt for diflerent body sizes.

A strap 18 maybesecured to one of the clasps 17 to'be brought over to the other clasp for covering theclaspsand hooks when the support is assembled on the wearer.

The method ofassembling the support on i the body of the wearer-will be, readily un cant the front portion 12* of the bow.

I I by Letters Patent is: derstood froinfthe foregoing; description.

The belt band 16 is placed against the back of the body and the ends 12 of the bow slipped into the pockets 16 The band is then pulled up over the bow until it is sufficiently tight, the pockets being of sufficient length to provide this adjustment. The straps 17 are threaded thru the links 17 of the clasps 17 and the buckles 17 d and fastened whenthe strap length is such as just to permit the clasps to engage the hooks. When the clasps have been hooked the strap 18 is brought over the clasps and hooks and fastened in the link of the clasp on the other side. This'protects the clothing of, the wearer from the metal parts. In daily'use, after the support has once been adjusted to proper size,'the belt is fastened and unfastened about the body at that end provided with strap 18, the other clasp being left fastened tokeep the parts of the support together. The strap 18 serves as a handle for pulling up the end of the beltportion against the resistance ofiered by the expansion of the body.

From the above description it will be evident that this support has many advantages, One of these advantages resides in the tendency of the support always to maintain itself in correct position. This provides for the elimination of all auxiliary stay straps employed with theusual types of abdomen supports heretofore known or used.

When the back of the belt of my support has atendency to'shift up due to some movement of the body likely to cause such shifting, the ends12 of the bow; which as stated extend at an angle to the bow and act as levers, will tend to move down to Now since the plate 13 is a rigid or substantially rigid member and rigidly secured to the how, its lower edge will be pressed with increased pressure against the body of the wearer. The body of course tends to force the edge of the plate outwardly and will thereby resist and prevent any tendency of the brace to shift position. In other words, the pad does not follow the slippage of the back of the belt but resists suchslippage. And on the other hand, the back of the belt being of considerable width and resting above the pelvic projections of the body will resist any tendency of the pad to slip up or down.

TVhile one specific embodiment of this invention has been particularly described it will be understood that the invention is not thus limited but is susceptible" of various changes and'modifications in each and all of its parts and I do not therefore wish to be limited except by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured 1. In a bodysupport in combination, a

substantially rigid bow member, a pad secured to said bow member, a flexible belt member, said belt member comprising a band. and straps secured thereto adjacent the ends thereof, a pocket formed on each end of said band for removably and adjustably receiving the ends of the bow, a clasp adjustably secured on each strap, and means on said bow member for detachably securing said Clasps.

2. In a body support in combination, a bow front member having laterally extending curved ends, a belt member cooperating with said bow member, said belt member comprising a band and straps, said band including a relatively wide web section in the back, intern'iediate fabric sections on either side of said web section and tapered end sections having pockets to accommodate the ends of the bow member, each of said straps comprising a single strip and angular branching end strips connected to the edges of the Web section and the end sections but free of the intermediate sections, said single strips extending beyond the ends of the band and means for adjustably securing the free ends of the straps to the front of said bow member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN E. PARKISON. 

